§ 12. Sir J. Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he will not allow mobile silage clamps as eligible for silo subsidies in Scotland when they are eligible for subsidies in England.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Lord John Hope)Mobile type silo clamps have been approved for grant-aid in Scotland where they have been permanently set on a concrete base. A mobile silo is not generally suitable for Scottish conditions, but if my hon. Friend has any exceptional case in mind I shall be prepared to consider it.
§ Sir J. DuncanIs my noble Friend aware that I have sent him particulars from a producer of these clamps in which he says that they are eligible for subsidy in England but not in Scotland? That is why I tabled the Question. Is my hon. Friend aware that it is most useful to have mobile clamps on farms because they can be moved from one field to another from year to year?
§ Lord John HopeThat is so, but as my hon. Friend will recognise, we do not have in Scotland the same systems of dairy farming, which are sometimes based on a movable bait, as in England, but, in the light of what I have said, if my hon. Friend knows of certain cases, I should be grateful if he would let me have details of them.